Welding apparatus



April 28, 1931. A, D Ross WELDING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1929 FIGS INVEN'roH ALEXANDERDROSS M2M/ym ATTORNE s Patented Apr. 28, 1931 ALEXANDER `D. ROSS, OF IvIONTR'E-AL, QUEBEC, CANADA WELDING Armeniens: .i

Application filed March 2, 1929, Serial No.

This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in Welding apparatus. and to an apparatus for welding or jointing cables, pipes and the, like and the object of the invention is to provide an efcient apparatus which will melt low vaporizing metalto form a joint between the adjacent ends of thematerialto bejoined.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which the radiation and convection losses are low and the size of the apparatus small so that it may be easily handled.

' YAccording to this invention, a welding apparatus is provided involving the use of an exothermic substance, such as a mixture of aluminum, iron oxide, magnesium and potassium nitrate. It is well knownl that the .reaction of a mixture of this character produces a very high temperature and that the generated heat is nearly all contained in the molten metal or iron formed as a product of the reaction. The volume of the iron .andV metal is small but its temperaturefis very high.

The best method of removing this heatl is by conduction through a metal or metals.l If Y this molten metal is placed in the interiorof the metal to be melted instead of on the exterior, the heat will be transferred by conduction and the efficiency will be higher as the molten iron is surrounded by the metal.' yIn `my apparatus I provide a container lined with a refractory material. A cup containing the exothermic mixture and surrounded by the meta-l or alloy to be melted is placed within the container. A cover is provided for the container and means are provided for igniting the mixture and also for allowing the gases generated escape. Means are also provided in the bottom of until it is at the most suitable temperature for pouring to form a welded or soldered joint between the ends of the material to be joined. In the drawings which illustrate one form of my invention: j

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved welding apparatus which is made in cartridge form.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the car-l within the container to" the container to hold the metal therein eassawd in 'canada November 22, 1928.`

tridge shown in Figure 1 and taken on Vthe line2 `2 Figure Slis a sectional side elevation of the apparatus showing the action of the metal as vit is being poured from the cartridge.

Figure f1 isa sectional side elevation of the container for the exothermic mixture with the metal or alloy to be melted attached thereto. Referring more particularly to the drawing, 11 designates an iron cup the bottom 12 of which is preferably of inverted conical form. The interior of the cup is filled, as in-` dicated at 13', with an exothermic, heat generating mixture of the character previously referred to. 4rllhe outer wall of the cup is covered'with a thin layer 14 of `refractory material. The alloy or metal 16 to be cast or melted is poured around the cup and moulded into proper shape. When the metalv solidilies, it shrinks veryV tightly around the refractory layer and cup and a firm contact is made be-` tween the metal and the cup. The metal andv cup "are then placed-in a container 16a which is provided with a thin lining 17 of refrack'" tory material. The base 1S of the lining is preferably made of inverted conical c form vand an aperture; 19 is formed in the centre of the bottom or base of the container and the lining: The inverted conical base assists the metal in its flow `and directs it towards the aperture. The aperture is filled with a fusible metallic plug 20 vand this plug is preferably made of a metal having a slightly higher v melting point than thatof the alloy, to ensure that the said alloy is ina fit state for pouring before theplug melts.r It is preferable `to allow an air space 21 between the inner wall of therefractory `outer wall of the castv fusible alloy tofacilitate the flow of metal through the aperture. Air vents 22 are also provided above the metal alloy through the lining 17 and the walls of the container. A refractory or refractory Alined cover 23 is secured to the top of the container and this cover is provided with an aperture 24 centrally disposed above the charge 13 to allow for the insertion'of an vigniterf25. This igniter may be secured to the exothermic charge land projects through lining 17 and the Y the aperture 24. This aperture also has the function of allowing gases, generated by the reaction of exothermic mixture 18, to escape without causing undue pressure on the cover.

In operation when the charge of exothermic mixture 13 is used, the products of reaction are found as shown in Figure 3.* yThe iron designated 26 iscontained in the Cup and'this is covered with aluminum oxide. As the metal is in very close contact with the cup the heat is transferred rapidlyinto the alloy and the iron cup is prevented from reaching a molten state. This prevents the iron cup from being destroyed. At the same time, the heat is transferred so metal .and away from the iron cupythat excessive temperatures in the metal yis ,prevented and the .tendency to vapourize the metal is alsoprevented.l The alloy first becomes molten after which .the temperature .continues to' rise untilv the fusible ,plug is melted. By this time the iron contained in the cup is solidiliedand the moltenalloy is free to run through the aperture in the base of the container. The aperture may be vpositioned above a mould (not shown) to direct the metal aroundthe objectsto be welded or soldered together. It willbe noticed thatthe size-of the cartridge is small compared with used in verylittlefspace and with the mini- .mum amount of labour for joining,'welding or soldering Vtheends of pipes, cables or the like, together.

.Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1s l, In a welding apparatus, ,a cup .adaptedA to contain an exothermic charge, Vsaid Ycup having a layer of refractory material on the outside thereof, and a moulded block of joining material surrounding the cup andinaking firm Contact with said `layer of refractory material.

2. In a welding apparatus, a cup havinganexterior layer of refractorymaterial, said cup being adapted tocontain a charge of vexothermic material, a block of fusible metal closely surrounding the outer wall of the cup and a container adapted to receive the cup and block. 1 g

. 3, Ina welding apparatus, a cup having an exterior layer of refractory material, said cup being adapted to contain an exothermic charge, a block .of fusible metal vsurrounding the cup, acontainer having an interior covering of refractory material, Vsaid container having an outlet for the metal and being tapered towards the outlet-.t0 canse themetal .tolow towards same whenin a moltenfstate. l

rapidly through the 4. In a welding apparatus, a cup having a conical bottom and a thin exterior covering of refractory material, a moulded block of fusible metal in firm contact with the refractory material, a container adapted to receive the cup and the moulded metal, said container having a refractory lining the bottom of which is in the form of a cone tapering' towards an outlet in thevcontainer bottom, a fusible plug in said outlet, said plug having a higher melting point than the fusible metal. 5. A welding apparatus according to claim 4 having' a cap adapted to seal the cup and means formed in the walls of the container to allow gases from the molten metal to pass therethrough. Y 6. In a .welding apparatus a cup having athin Aexterior coating-of refractory material, said'cup being adapted tocontain a charge ofan exothermic mixture, a block of fusible metal, surrounding said cup and in firm contact with the refractory material, a container having an interior lining of refractory material, and adapted to receive the cup with the fusible metal attachedthereto, said conf` tainer having a frusto conical interior base adapted to direct the metal when in a molten state towards an outlet, a fusible'plug in said outlet, said plug having a higher melting point than the fusible metal, a Vcap adapted to seal the cup, means formed in the wall of the container Vto allow gases formed during the melting of the alloy to pass therethrough, and an igniter in the cupvfor effecting ignition of the exothermic mixture.

7. Welding apparatuslcomprising a container having a body of heat generating material placed therein, a fusible alloy surrounding the outer and bottom surfaces of said container and carried thereby, and an outer 'casing surrounding said container and fusible alloy and provided with a normally closed opening through which the fusible alloy is permitted to escape, whenheated to a molten conditionby ignition ofsaid heat generating material.

8. 1i/Velding apparatus comprising inner and outer containers, a fusible alloy surrounding the side and bottoni walls of the inner container and enclosed by the outer container, and a body of heat generatingmaterial contained within said inner container, saidouter container having a normally closed opening through which the fusible alloy is permitted to flow, when melted by ignition of the heat generating material.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

- ALEXANDER D. ROSS. 

